Draft-equalizer.



PATENTD OCT. 17, 1905.

E. A. BARRY.

DRAFT EQUALIZER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2v. 1905.

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panier-linearized Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 17, 1905.

Application filed April 27, 1905. Serial No. 257,727.

l Beit known that I, EDWIN A. BARRY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Sutherland, in the county of OBrien and State of Iowa, have invented new and useful Improvements in Draft-Equalizers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to draft-equalizers designed especially for use upon agricultural implements, and has for its objects to produce a comparatively simple inexpensive device of this character in which the draft will be effectually equalized between the animals on opposite sides of the tongue or pole and one wherein the equalizing devices will have free play, thus to permit ready movement of the draftebar.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved frame for the draft mechanism and to provide a simple durable forln of bracket for supporting the pulleys over which the draft'elements travel.

l/Vith these and other objects in view the invention comprises the novel features of construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanying' drawing's, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a vehicle-tongue equipped with a draft-equalizing mechanism embodying the invention. Fig'. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation of the same as viewed in the direction of the arrow in Fig'. 1. Fig. 4; is a detail perspective view of one of the bearing-brackets and a portion of the supporting-frame.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a tongue or pole having' bolted to its upper face a metal clip 2, designed to receive adraft-bar 3, pivoted to the pole by means of a bolt or pin 4 and equipped with swingletrees 5, these parts being of the usual or any approved construction and material. Attached to the upper face of the pole adjacent its rear end by means of a fastening' member or staple 6 is a frame-bar 7, composed of strap metal and having its ends bent rearwardly at right ang'les to produce rearwardly-extending' arms or portions 8, said bar being' arranged to stand vertically on edge, as seen more clearly in Fig. 3, and being curved from its center upwardly toward its ends, which latter project equal distances on opposite sides of the pole 1.

Attached at their forward ends to the pole 1 and respectively on opposite sides thereof is a pair of strap-metal braces 9,which diverge rearwardly and are provided at their outer ends with angular portions 10, riveted or otherwise secured to the terminal portions 8 of the bar 7, there being attached to the rear end of the pole a pair of forwardly-extending and divergent braces 11, in turn attached at their forward ends to the side bars or braces 9, the bars 7, 9, and 11 conjointly constituting' a draft-frame carried by the tongue 1. Carried by the outer ends of the frame is a pair of bearing' members or brackets 12, each composed of sheet metal bent along its edges to produce liang'es which are riveted to the adjacent ends of the bars7 and 9 and having a vertically-depending portion or flange 13, provided with a guide opening or perforation 14, there being riveted to each of the brackets 12 a vertical depending hangerl, having a horizontal portion extended beneath the bearing 12. The brackets 12 and hangers 15 constitute bearings in which are journaled vertically-disposed guide members or pulleys 16, on which are arranged for travel flexible draft elements or chains 17, each connected at one end with the adjacent end of the draftbar 3, the elements being' in turn connected by a rigid connecting' member or loar 18, it being' noted in this connection that the connected ends of the elements 17 are threaded through and travel in the guide-openings 14C.

In practice the chains or elements 17 travel freely on the pulleys 16 to permit ready movement of the draft-bar 3 upon its pivot, it being' apparent that the strains exerted by the draft-animals on the bar 3 will be transmitted to and borne by the elements 17 and 18, or, in other words, that an undue strain exerted by one of the draft-animals will be transmitted throug'h the draft elements to the other end of the draft-bar.

From the foregoing' it is apparent that I produce a simple inexpensive device admirably adapted for the attainment of the ends in view and one which in practice will be exceedingly strong and durable, it being understood that in attaining' these ends minor changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is- In a device of the class described, a tongue or pole, adraft-bar pivotally connected therewith, a supporting frame carried by the tongue, bearing-brackets carried by the frame and having downturned inner side portions provided with guide-openings, hangers con- IOD neeted with the freine and having horizontal side portions, and a rigid Connecting-ber eX- portions beneath and serving oonjointly with tended between the exible elements. IO the brackets to form bearings, guide-pulleys In testimony vvhereot` I aHX my signaturein jonrneled in the bearings, iexible elements presence of two Witnesses.

arranged for travel on the guide-pulleys and EDWIN A. BARRY. connected respectively with the opposite ends Witnesses:

of the draft-bar, seid elements being threaded DAVID F. SHUNWAY,

through the guide-openings in the downturned A ETHEL CHESLEY. 

